OBSERVATIONS 



IN RELATION TO 



THE CYCLONES OE THE WESTEEN PACIFIC 



BT WILLIAM C. KEDFIELD. 



New York, December 26, 1856. 



Dear Sir : The return to the United States of the naval expedition placed under your com- 

 mand by our government, for special service in the Asiatic seas, has furnished much valuable 

 information on various subjects of general interest and importance. Of these beneficial contri- 

 butions, the numerous geographical and hydrographical examinations made by the officers of 

 the squadron, and the observations made and collected in relation to the tempestuous cyclones 

 of the Western Pacific, cannot fail to promote the interests of navigation and commerce. The 

 latter portion of these materials, together with such other notices of the gales and typhoons of 

 the China Sea and the North Pacific Ocean as are now at hand, constitute the subject of this 

 communication. 



Cyclone of July, 1853. — The steamships Susquehanna and Mississippi left the bay of Tedo, in 

 Japan, on the 17th of July, 1853, steering a southwesterly course, with the barometer at 30 

 inches, which is quite above the mean height of this instrument in the summer season on that 

 coast, and was caused, apparently, by the exterior atmospheric wave of the approaching cyclone. 

 On the 18th, the barometer commenced falling, with the wind at E.S.B., and was accompanied 

 on the 19th by a heavy swell from the southeast quarter, in latitude 31° 14' N., longitude 

 135° 03' E. ; the center-path of the cyclone, thus approached by the ships, being at the distance 

 of about five hundred and fifty miles, as now estimated. On the 20th, the cyclonic wind had 

 veered to the east, increasing in force, and with "very heavy sea." At 6 p. M., the barometer 

 had fallen to 29.36 ; below which it did not subside. The Mississippi, after lying twenty-four 

 hours with head to S.E., with no indications of a favorable change, was placed with her head to 

 N.E., when the rise of the barometer was very apparent, as appears by the master's report. 

 The Susquehanna's barometer, at 9 A. M. of the 21st, stood at 29.36; and from this time it con- 

 tinued to rise slowly, and the strength of the gale was found to abate. On the 24th, the Missis- 

 sippi was in latitude 26° 25', longitude 128° 10' E., near to Lew Chew, with barometer at 29.60, 

 and the cyclonic wind had veered to E.S.E. On the 26th, at Lew Chew, the wind had veered 

 round to the southward, and the barometer rose to 29.74 ; and on the 27th and 28th, attained 

 29.80, the usual height for July in that region. 



From the known law which governs the cyclones in the northern hemisphere it results that 

 these observations, as made by a single ship, are quite sufficient to show that this gale was a 

 great cyclone, and was moving in the direction which is common in the lower latitudes ; that it 

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